Reggie dishes some dirt on the Revolution's Controller

Nintendo, Nintendo, Nintendo. Whether they were caught flat-footed or are just acting all misterioso to generate buzz is up for debate (you probably know where we fall on this one), but our old friends at Nintendo have been notoriously coy when it comes to divulging details about their new next-gen Revolution console. They didn't show off a working demo at E3 last month (or even tease us with any clips of game play) and they've been tight-lipped about its specs, but lately it seems like there's been a crazy amount of attention focused on the Revolution's controller. We've already spotted way more fakes and 'shopped concept designs than we care to think about, but they definitely have something cooking. Nintendo mac daddy Reggie Fils-Aime has been dishing some dirt, revealing in an interview with EGM that they're already showing off the controller to developers. He says that it will definitely be configurable (he doesn't get very specific about how) to make it work with all of the vintage Nintendo games they're going to be offering for download and that it's this configurability that has developers all excited about the possibilities for what you can do with new games.

[Thanks, Tim]

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

The image that popped into my head after reading this is a controller with buttons that you can rearrange like a slider puzzle. Or just pop off and pop on different templates.

You know it's going to be something simple and cheap - this is Nintendo. It's not going to be a touch screen, which is unworkable anyway. It's not going to be gyroscopic (although there may be an option for tilt control via some sort of plugin module, like there is in some GBA carts). It's going to be something stupidly simple, and it's going to be based on their experience.

The big failing of the GameCube controller is everybody says it only works with certain types of games, namely Nintendo's own. I'm pretty sure something like cheap removable faceplates with buttons and pads that can basically be set up in any configuration fits everything they've said so far.

(And if this sounds like it would be disappointing after all the wild speculation, then that probably means it's pretty close to the truth.)

[Julien @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

hmm. "configurability". "possibilities for what you can do with new games". kind of corresponds with what we heard about the "no buttons" rumors and similar.

because, what I'm picturing in my mind there: imagine the whole controller has no buttons but is just one big tactile touch field, maybe even some sort of touchscreen where you can light up freely configurable areas.

that way, every game comes with its *own* buttons.

[Andrew W. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

The rumors are a touch screen with gyroscopic ability(both of those rumors most likely will come true because Nintendo bought a gyroscope company, they have patents toward gyroscope techology and they have been hinting that Revolution will be similar to the DS which has touch screen capabilities. I am envisioning something like the 'Kameoleon' remote control that has been featured here on Engadget where depending on the system you play on - it will change to that layout.

Now the real question is - will revolution have any sort of 3D projection technology as has been rumored. That would make a ton of people convert back from Xbox and PS.

[bouncicles @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Current touchscreens can't register more that one contact. That means games like oh, say, every Mario Bros. game where you have to hold down B to run and press A to jump won't work. This issue has been covered and covered and covered. Unless Nintendo has a magic new touchscreen, it can't happen.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

It better have real buttons with tactile feedback. Ten minutes of banging your thumb on a hard flat surface and it'll be throbbing!

[rocafellaice @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

#3 that really all depends on what kind of touch display the use.

[Jules @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Yeah, I was thinking more of a Transformers meets Controller kinda thing.

[ajprice @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

The new controller could basically be a GBA (the original GBA, not the SP), with a touch screen, or the bottom half of a DS. And gyro, if that patent turns out right.

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Julien (#2) most likely has it right- the more dissapointing it starts to sound, the closer you probably are to the truth.

The thing that is ridiculous about these rumors have been the blatant disregard for price of technology- everybody knows that Nintendo is going to try and build a cheap system, yet some people like to fantasize about 3D Holographic monitors straight out of Star Wars or Minority Report (I know they're different but whatever) and emotion sensing controllers that make your characters do different things when you get angry or sad.

The idea of removable face plates is probably right on- touch screens would cost tons of money to make (that tiny touch screen on your Nintendo DS would most likely cost hundreds more if it were made to be the size of a standard video game controller).

My question is, then, what will the innovation be? Maybe I'm underestimating Nintendo, maybe they thought up some truly unbelievable technology in their R and D department (I doubt it) that no one ever thought before, but my money is on the innovation being that *gasp* you can swap faceplates on your controller!

[Julien @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

who says it absolutely has to be a DS-like touchscreen? i said the following:

"imagine the whole controller has no buttons but is just one big tactile touch field, maybe even some sort of touchscreen where you can light up freely configurable areas."

so, *not* a PDA or DS like real touchscreen, but one big tactile touch field where you may light up areas.

and registering more than one contact is possible. it just depends on the technology.

however, tactile feedback is an issue, yeah. but Jeff (#1) is probably right, when he says, the more disappointing, the closer it is to the truth (yep, that was Jeff, not me).

[Lectoid @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

#2, the problem with this is that you may never memorize where the buttons are. I still have to look down and remember which is the circle and which is the triangle on "God of War". I don't know that this isn't possible (because it hasn't been done before), but I hope this isn't the make/break factor for Nintendo.

[Idlecogz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I have to agreee with #1, its going to be something simple. This is nintendo, its got to be "kid tough" and touch screens with buttons that might shift around during play, I just don't see it.

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

im not sure why engadget et al are so down on the Big N. They have ALWAYS had the best controller in their generation, which has been a big part of why their fans are, well, still their fans. Imagine if the Apple diehards, with all their arguments about elegant, simple interfaces and superior performance were also backed up with the economics of buying the most affordable system at any given time, and you start to understand. Drink the Nintendo KoolAid.

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I for one welcome our new video game overlords...

[the blob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I bet the controllers will be like some sort of glove for each hand.

[Morwan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Daniel, what the hell are you smoking? The GC controller is notoriously bizarre. It's terrible for fighting games. It's a miracle that Soul Calibur 2 was even playable. The C-Stick works rather poorly as a second analog stick, and the odd placement and shapes of the buttons, while 'ergonomic' are more annoying than convenient. Everyone talks about how innovative Nintendo is, but I fail to see how they innovated with the GameCube. It's small, but so was the Dreamcast. The only thing I can think of is the GBA->GC hookup.

Personally, I like the Xbox's S controller the best, because it essentially rips off of the DC controller while adding another analog stick. The PS2 controller is fine, but the terrible naming of the buttons (There's no logic to their placement. A-B X-Y makes sense.) the lack of differentiation between the trigger buttons, and the poor placement of the left analog stick drive me nuts.

[Shin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

It's a no-brainer. Nintendo gives everyone Clay-Doh so you can make your own perfectly comfortable controller. Then you can put some digital smarties on them so you have the buttons! See how Nintendo is growing up? Obviously it's not for kids because they will think the smarties are real and eat the toxic Clay-Doh along with it.

[IK-47 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

touch buttons, on a surface that can be bent inwards for tactile feedback.

OLED display, and gyroscopic controls.

a good idea IMO

[Vimal @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I was just thinking the same thing Jeff #1.. only that it kinds seems like what your describing and what I was imagining was a like a Mr. Potato Head controller. Not what I would think Nintendo wants to get rid of the kiddy image *sigh* Hopefully Nintendo will surprise us all and we can live happily ever after in Nintendo land!

[lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Rectal controller. Like the vehicle in Southpark.

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

well... dope, obviously morwan. the fact, though, is that Nintendo had always had the most precise analogues, as well as the most ergonomic controls. the s type is better than the original, but then again so is controlling a game from the keypad on my microwave.

The DC, as well as the s type, are decent controls, but they all look and feel like they came right out of the schematics on a 3d rendering program, and were never tested by humans. I, for one, play with my human hands, and have always preferred the nintendo controls. oh, and if you can set up a soulcaliber contest between you s type, and my "annoying" controller, i would be happy to teach you about the relationship between ergonomics and useability.

[RX @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

"Current touchscreens can't register more that one contact. That means games like oh, say, every Mario Bros. game where you have to hold down B to run and press A to jump won't work. This issue has been covered and covered and covered. Unless Nintendo has a magic new touchscreen, it can't happen."

Actually, developers have stated that the DS touchscreen CAN in fact detect 2 simultaneous touches, its just that they have some accuracy problems at the moment, but they're working on it.

[kzmk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

@ morwan: Nintendo's controller is by and far the easiest to pick up and go for newbies. Large button, small button, "that other one on top... no the other one".

Did you ever play a PS2 game on a smaller screen? A game where you are prompted to press... say... the cross? It's almost impossible to know which button that is, since there's no second clue -- you need to remember a symbol on a button and where it's placed. With Ninty's pad, you get colors, sizes, different forms. You can use it without looking at it *at all*.

And that's all there is; might be that die-hard gamers love the diamond shaped arrangement better, but to "just pick up a game and have some fun", nothing beats Nintendo and their controller.

Oh, and I also thinks the new one is along the line of faceplates.

[Morwan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Daniel: I'd gladly take your SC challenge. I own Soul Calibur 2 for my GameCube, and I can definitely tell you I play better using a Xbox controller. The GC controller was designed to be easy to use for simple games- one huge button, two medium sized buttons, and one small. But for games where you need equal access to several buttions (i.e., fighting games), it's not an ideal setup.

I'll give GC controller credit for being easy for newbies. Which is important. But for someone who's main hobby is gaming, I find the controller just plain annoying sometimes.

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Nintendo's controller is not only ergonomic, but their button layout is good also.

The "A" button is the primary button, it's big green, easy to press, "B" is the secondary button so it off to the left a little bit, and it's red.

I used to have a hard time memorizing which is x and which is y, think of a cartesian plane (a graph) the x axis horizontal (thus the button x on the controller is on the side) and the y axis is vertical (thus the y button is directly above the A button.

I have the xbox controller s-type, and it is not as ergonomic, and I hate the analog control stick, especially when playing Super Monkey Ball.

[Bibsy O'Shaughnessy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Nowhere in the article in question does Reggie mention that the controller is "configurable". He's talking about the controller's configuration.
And Iwata has gone on record stating that they have no intenntion of making the Revolution a dual screen console akin to the DS, so that pretty much rules out a screen on the controller.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I see add-on parts to the controller.

[Donlo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Go to the store and pick up a PS2/XBOX -> NGC coverter for $7.99, simple as that. I use my dual shock when I find a game that doesnt feel right with the gamecube controller. In the end you can use whatever feels best with what console you like (unless it lacks buttons.)

[Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Tell me something.

How is Nintendo "acting all misterios to generate buzz" any different than MS and Sony releasing over inflated specs (with no actual real world numbers) to (ta-da).. generate buzz? At this point it's ALL about generating buzz.

"They didn�t show off a working demo at E3 last month"

NOBODY showed off a working demo at E3. Did you sit down and play any of the new consoles? Nobody did. How is Nintendo's half empty box any different than the other guys?

"(or even tease us with any clips of game play)"

You mean the fake, pre-rendered clips of games that have no actual bearing on what the games will look like because (once again) they were pre-rendered and not actually running on the INCOMPLETE hardware. (With the possible exception of the 360 but I take everything they've shown with a grain of salt)

Forgive Nintendo for not flat out LYING about their system and games in order to build hype (altho I doubt they have anything "revolutionary"), and instead building hype by making us wait until they actually have something to show. (Unlike Sony and MS who have nothing to show, but don't let that stop them from making stuff up to show)

Right now ALL we have is hype. Everything should be taken with a grain of salt. It's not above MS or Sony to flat out lie about what their stuff is capable of doing. Sony is NOTORIOUS for it and Microsoft isn't any better.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

I am expecting what Nintendo promises - a revolution. Something different and /new/. That is:

1) No faceplates. Intellivision did that to much confusion and frustration (e.g. loss of faceplates).
2) No touchscreen. How many companies would just put a DS2 controller on the screen.
3) No add-ons. N64 did that and they dropped the feature the very next generation.
4) No mix and slide parts, unless they really want to be mislead people. It is obvious they are going for sophistication next generation, if one reads even the slightest bit into the console's unveiled appearance.

[GTgadget @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

"Did you sit down and play any of the new consoles? Nobody did."

There were a good handful of 360 games running on dev units on the show floor, playable by attendees. Specifically Full Auto and NFS. BTW, Full Auto would probably get its lunch eaten by a next gen Burnout...it looked great and I was excited to play it, but it wasn't very fun (for me). You can try to argue that the dev kits aren't the same as the actual console, but the shipping 360 hardware will be more powerful than the early dev kits that were running at E3.

[kiddanger @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

i say the powerglove is coming back!
http://www.orphanvideogames.com/powerglove.jpg
"i love the power glove, it's so bad!"-gamemaster

[Wonderflex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

My prediction is stil what I've been thinking for a while now. The controler will be dark colored, and be smooth faced. Built into the system will be a configuration utility that will allow you to drag and drop pictures of buttons onto a 3D rendering of it. When a button is dropped then it will light up just as that button on your controler.
It will have stock options for all the major systems. So if you click on the "NES" setting it will make a regular nintendo configuration light up on your controler.
Games will pre-load their settings for a controler, and may, or may not, be configurable.
I really doubt that it will have gyroscopics, I imagine that is for a handheld system. Their "true successor" to the game boy.

In response to #31 - already suggestet that, along with the running pad. I still like my friend's idea of a chair and two foot rests so you can play a wheelchair sim.

In response to comment #1. I doubt that it will be as simple, or as cheap, a system as you make it sound. Nintendo knows they got kicked around in marketshare this time, (even though they made profit) and will be coming out fighting hard. They have money and experience.

I don't see the use of the amount of bashing though that goes on. Here is the plain and simple facts, the games are going to be what's important not the system. Alas though, I'm too lazy to actually retype my opions on this, so here is the simple of it:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000667043658/#c289487
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000667043658/#c290208

[Grumbler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

Here is some stuff I havn't heard suggested yet:

Maybe its something as simple as the way you hold it differently. e.g. you put it on your lap and have a finger for each button like on PC keyboards.

Maybe it has one of those ball things (like some people use instead of a mouse) instead of a stick.

MAYBE, just maybe. The full sized Joy sticks are coming back (a la atari and some people use on pc's) to consoles. After all, revolution also means something doing a cycle and coming round again...

[Wonderflex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

If the thing is "revolutionary" then it can't have been something already done before. People seem to forget that. Most likely, if you can think it up in use in any other situation currently on the market, or available in the past, then it's not going to be it.

[Kaneda Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM]

remember people.. nintendo DID come up with neat stuff from their RnD teams once.

and we were then saddled with the virtualboy

speaking of that, if they had a VR helmet that would explain the lack of screenshots now wouldnt it. and gyros are good for head mounted displays

the bastard child of the virtualboy! BEWARE PEOPLE!